To our boys.
May your early, wide-eyed wonder at the outdoors grow to include birds one day. -e
You bring us more joy than a thousand warblers during spring migration. -k
Preface
We were privileged to participate in the 2021 Coracle Fellowship cohort. This field guide you are reading is a generalized version of our final project, a bird guide for Corhaven in Quicksburg, VA. It was borne out of the love, care, and reflection stimulated by that community.
I came up with the idea for this field guide after encountering difficulties using a field guide as a novice birder. I wondered: What if field guides could be more localized? Kevin and I wrote code to query eBird.org, a “citizen science” website where birders can report their sightings and contribute to the overall understanding of birds. From eBird, we downloaded all recorded observations of birds within a 5 kilometer radius of Corhaven in Quicksburg, VA within the last 10 years. My code determined when each bird species tended to be observed in each season of the Christian liturgical calendar. Kevin’s code pulled all of that together into this book.
We contributed the structure, reflections, and code to create this guide, but we did not produce any of the bird descriptions or photos. All such content comes including Cornell University’s eBird.org and National Geographic. Birding, like Christianity, has a rich tradition built on contributions and perspectives from those who have gone before. While innovation can be useful, it must be informed by the good work that others have toiled to produce. -e
Part 1: On birding
Introduction
It is no stretch to say that birding saved our lives. In early 2020, we were struggling through a season of personal darkness, which was compounded by being shut off from much of the outside world due to the Covid-19 pandemic. We spent many days watching the passage of time from the our dining room window, unable to see beyond those circumstances in which we failed to flourish.
It was around spring that we first started to notice the appearance (and then reappearance) of different kinds of birds. What we had thought of as “birds” before became to us distinct creatures. Different species became associated with different personalities, colors, and sounds. We bought a field guide to help us identify them, which transformed them in our eyes. They were named, they were known, and because they evoked in us a hint of the joy one feels when we realize someone has become familiar, we saw that they were good.
The birds drew us outside of our home and ourselves. They called to us and gave us a reason to look and venture outwards. They gave structure to our days and weeks as we learned of their rhythms. Finally they became, to our surprise, reminders of God’s kindness and presence with us through the seasons. Like God, birds come in and out of our view, but they are always around.
The significance of birds has a rich heritage within Christian tradition. Besides being mentioned and playing critical symbolic roles within the Bible, they have been used as symbols in Christian art for centuries. There were numerous stories in the early days of the church of its saints and mystics befriending birds. More recently, the late John Stott was a lover of birds, writing The Birds Our Teachers: Biblical Lessons from a Lifelong Bird Watcher, which can be found in the Corhaven library. Birds need not be linked to explicit Biblical references to reveal their theological significance. One of my favorite books, Great Possessions: An Amish Farmer’s Journal by David Kline, contains reflections about farm life. The birds that pass through his family’s farm are central characters: The agents of a God who sustains his creatures out of creative abundance.
To anyone with eyes to see and ears to hear, we believe birding has much to offer us in our spiritual formation. It cultivates a sense of wonder and love of creation. It forms good habits and virtues in those who give themselves to the practice. It has the potential to draw humans into deeper communion with the living God, who rules over much more than the birds, but certainly not less. -k
A note on Corhaven
Coracle is a living and breathing community of people knitted together by the Spirit and the humble work of its stewards. Its people are joined by a shared desire for deep spiritual communion, which transcends church traditions and localities. Despite its transcendent quality, Coracle is also tied intimately to a physical space. If you are reading this at Corhaven, you will be familiar with how the veil between God’s space and ours seems to be just a little bit thinner there. I suspect that through common use, consecration, and cultivation of the grounds and buildings of Corhaven, it has been molded into a shape that is well-suited to revealing God’s presence.
Taking a walk around Corhaven, you will likely notice the chickens and guinea fowl patrolling the grounds (they are not included in this field guide). Look above on a sunny day, and you may see Turkey Vultures circling overhead. Venture through Corhaven’s paths into the woods and you will likely hear birds calling and singing (though they may be hard to spot). Like human communities, birds are tied to physical space and time. Specifically, most of them are tied to certain spaces at certain times – that is, they are seasonal. You can only really notice this if you try birding in the same place over time.
Quicksburg, VA is located close enough to migration pathways on the East coast to host a variety of birds. In addition, its setting among farmland, forests, and the Appalachian Mountains make it a welcoming habitat. Closer to Corhaven itself, the lush woods and Holman’s Creek at the back of the grounds offer plenty of hiding and feeding spots for birds. All these factors make Corhaven a challenging but potentially rewarding place for birding. -k
Birding as virtue formation
When asked about my hobbies, I am likely to launch into a discourse of why I love birds and the practice of identifying them. Whether the person asking the question has any interest in what I have to say is questionable. What is unquestionable, though, is that my answers flow naturally out of me because the practice of birding has fundamentally shaped the kind of person I am.
Any practice, if embraced wholeheartedly over time, has the potential to shape its practitioners. In that respect, birding is not unique. With the exception of a lucky (or fanatical) minority, most of us partake in and are shaped by a diversity of practices. Human beings spend time birding, working, parenting, gardening, and so much more. Some of these practices form virtue in us, while others form vices (typically, each practice forms some combination of both). Most of this formation happens beneath the level of our conscious awareness, so it is worth reflecting from time to time on the kinds of people we are becoming as a result of our participation in a particular practice.
Birding is the first proper hobby I’ve discovered as an adult. It had been awhile since I felt driven to learn anything and everything I could about a new domain, which brought me back to my younger years when I would experience the rush of unearthing and navigating the intricacies of a new activity (the last one was when I picked up rock climbing in college). I found that birding cultivated my capacity for childlike awe and joy. It taught me once again to be excited rather than cynical or skeptical towards something out in the world. It taught me that there is much in the world that is worth knowing.
While birding evokes childlike wonder, it simultaneously cultivates more adult virtues like conscientiousness and care. It is certainly possible to identify and catalog birds in a mostly self-serving manner (e.g. to run up one’s tally of observations), but even that relies on the generosity and care of others who make birding information and knowledge readily available. Birding is a shared practice and draws you into a community, and to be initiated into this community is to care about the effect one has on other birders, the environment, and of course, the birds. Because one can only begin birding in light of the generosity of others, the practice invites you to give to and care for others in turn.
Because I am newer to birding and lack years of hard-earned knowledge that would allow identifying birds to come “naturally”, I have had to acquire the basics of birding through intentional discipline, via repetition and practice. I read up on common species to look out for in new birding locations I visit. I track recent observations from birding websites (and a web-app Evelyn and I built) to decide where to go birding. I hone my bird photography skills through trial and error. I study my field guide to memorize subtle cues to help with identification. As with all virtues, the point of intentional disciplines is to make a certain way of being “second nature”. There will come a day when all this comes naturally, but it will likely take years of treating birding as an intentional discipline.
Finally, birding cultivates my ability to love. Birding assumes there are things outside of myself worth contemplating, and as I come to know them, I discover that they are not mere objects, but subjects with their own exterior and (I assume) interior lives. Love, the great theologians have argued, is a form of knowing. One cannot truly know something without loving it, and one cannot love something without truly knowing it. The surest way to learn to love birds is to know them, but you cannot truly know them without loving them. Birding cultivates a million different virtues, but the greatest of these is love. -k
Birding as part of the spiritual life
At its core, birding is a practice by which we come to know birds as subjects and creatures. As subjects, birds are distinct from us. This may seem a trivial truth, but in a world that elevates self and autonomy, it is no small thing to be reminded that there are beings beyond ourselves with dynamic lives of their own. As creatures, birds are simultaneously part of the created order and distinct from each other. Thus, they reveal the world’s (literal and figurative) diversity and color, which makes them worth knowing.
What is the goal of the spiritual life if not to become better subjects and creatures within the created order and in relation to God our Creator? Our capacity to receive the practice of birding as a gift, if we embrace it, parallels and enhances our capacity to receive spiritual life.
Birds are warm-blooded animals constituting the class Aves (Latin for ‘bird’). There are nearly 11,000 species of bird worldwide, and they all share many genetic, biological, and physiological characteristics. These are related in fascinating ways, but it would be a mistake to think birds are reducible to these physical characteristics alone. It is of course possible to view birds as mere configurations of physical characteristics, but all birders (and ornithologists) are drawn to them for their beauty and distinct personalities.
Similarly, it is possible to view the world only as a complex system of physical, economic, and social forces. That is to view the world as nature, i.e. as mere matter. Those forces are certainly at play, but any Christian living the spiritual life knows how impoverished such a view is. The world is not mere nature, but creation charged with the presence of a Creator God who continues creating and interacting with the world. Although birding is about noticing what is there, it beckons us to see not just the birds, but beyond the birds themselves.
One of my favorite aspects of birding is the seasonality of various birds. They come and go in predictable patterns. Many species of waterfowl show up near our home in Virginia in the winter. Songbirds show up in the spring. Birding invites us to stay and patiently await old friends, and gives us a sense of the passing of time.
The importance of time to the spiritual life should not surprise mature Christians. God brings Christians through different seasons of life. Every year, the Christian calendar draws us into the unfolding drama of God’s people as we walk through Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Ordinary Time. Each season has its place in time and in the spiritual life, and it is sacrilegious to skip any one season to rush towards another. God appears to teach us different things in and through different seasons, and to expect otherwise would be as foolish as looking for warblers (seasonal migrants) in the middle of winter.
Finally, birding forces us to acknowledge that we are ultimately recipients of a gift. We can, and indeed should, prepare and plan as best we can for any birding expedition. Learning the behaviors, habitats, and seasonality of different species will increase one’s likelihood of encountering birds of interest. Having the right equipment and technique helps, too. But ultimately, nothing is guaranteed or owed to us. The birds will do as they please, and if they deign to appear, it should be received as grace.
So too with the spiritual life. We worship, pray, and study so that we might become more attuned to God’s whispers and presence. God is always speaking and present, but our limitations as creatures mean we should always be listening and watching as if God could appear as a bird in a bush. “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes” (John 3:8). Likewise, the birds fly where they will, and you may hear their song, but you do not know where they come from or where they go. -k
A note on the guide
Creating a comprehensive hyper-localized bird guide is a Sisyphean task: As soon as a new version is ready, there will be weather systems, climate change, or other environmental factors that influence the birds you may see in that area. You may not see the birds you expect to see, and you may even see birds you did not expect to see. Therefore, this guide was not designed to be authoritative. Your own mileage may vary.
The more time we have spent as birders, the more we have associated different species with different times. As we see different birds come and go during the year, we are reminded of the passage of time and the rhythms of God’s creation. We wanted to provide a resource that might help readers draw links between different birds and the seasons of the Church. This was easy enough, since the Church organizes time with the liturgical calendar. Our innovation in this guide is that we have organized entries for birds by the Christian liturgical season(s) in which they are most commonly observed.
We have included the liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter and Ordinary Time. While some Christian traditions may differ in the number and timing of liturgical seasons, we felt these were a reasonable, ecumenical representation of the Christian calendar. Note that single-day events such as Pentecost and Ascension are not included due to the difficulty of gathering sufficient bird data for a single day. Additionally, we have split Ordinary Time into early and late portions, because it is the longest season, and the common birds do vary between those halves of the season.
We hope that organizing the guide in this way will help you connect the birds you observe to particular liturgical seasons. May the birds you see be friendly reminders of God’s activity in the time and place you find yourself, and may they nudge you towards deeper wonder and awe for the one who created both the birds and the seasons. -e
Part 2: Field guide
Advent
A time of waiting, yearning, and reflecting. Advent comes in late November or early December to mark the start of the Christian calendar. As we wait patiently for God’s renewal, we call out: O come and make all things new. O come, o come, Emmanuel.
Advent can be a quiet birding season. Most have migrated south to warmer climates for the winter. Of the birds that you might see, most will have muted colors reflecting the winter environment around them (but keep an eye out for the occasional flash of color). Even though most birds you may see in Advent are not very colorful, they tend to be relatively large, making them easy to spot. You will likely see some members of the duck, geese, and swan family floating on calmer waters or flying overhead. You may even hear the ducks making typical duck sounds. -e
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House Finch Fringillidae: Siskins, Crossbills & Allies Frequents suburban settings across North America, along with open woods, brushy field edges, and deserts. Males vary in shades and intensity of red. Some males are yellow or orange. Females are drab gray-brown overall with plain faces and blurry streaks on underparts. Similar to Purple and Cassin’s Finch, but House Finch males are more orangey-red with color equally bright on crown, throat, and breast. Red color is mostly restricted to head and upper chest, contrasting with cold gray-brown nape, back, and wings. Pale sides show distinct brown streaks, lacking red tones. Females lack bold face pattern and have more diffuse patterning overall. Often sings loudly in neighborhoods and visits feeders. |
Christmas
Representing the time between December 25 and January 5 (the day before Epiphany), Christmas focuses us on the gift of the Incarnation, when God took on flesh and took the form of a human. I think of this as God’s definitive pronouncement that creation is good and expresses God’s nature as one who gives good gifts.
The quiet and cold that comes with this time of year means that few species of birds are around. Perhaps to highlight the gift-nature of the season, you can regard each bird you see as a rare gift. -k”
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American Kestrel Falconidae: Falcons Petite falcon roughly the same size as Mourning Dove, but with a larger head and wider tail. In flight, note long, narrow wings and square-tipped tail. Often seen perched on telephone wires, along roadsides, in open country with short vegetation and few trees. From a perch or hovering, they usually drop to the ground to snatch small mammals and insects. Nests in cavities. Widespread across the Americas. |
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Red-tailed Hawk Accipitridae: Kites, Hawks & Eagles Most common roadside raptor across much of North America. Often perches atop telephone poles, light posts, and edges of trees. Incredible variation in plumages, including less common dark morphs and various regional differences. Eastern adults have brilliant reddish-orange tail and pale underparts with obvious band of dark marks across belly. Western birds are typically darker. Immatures do not have a red tail. |
Epiphany
Starting on January 6 and extending until Lent, Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of Jesus to the world. It is a time for the world to recognize and receive its rightful King, if only it knows where to look. How fitting that it coincides with the end of winter, when those who look carefully can see the first hints of new life returning.
When there is snow on the ground, keep an eye on any low-to-mid height bushes as a place where the smaller birds congregate - especially if it is a berry bush! On particularly sunny days, you may see the typically skittish sparrows linger in the warm rays of sunlight. Keep an eye on dead, open tree branches or in the open sky to see hawks. -e
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Dark-eyed Junco Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Unique sparrow with incredible variation between populations. Generally patterned with gray, white, and shades of tan. All have pinkish bills and white outer tail feathers. Juveniles are streaky. Breeds in a variety of forested habitats, especially with conifers. Found in any wooded habitat in the winter, often in flocks. Usually forages on the ground for seeds, but also fond of brushy thickets or weedy fields. Visits feeders. Subspecies include: Slate-colored (widespread), Oregon (West), Pink-sided (Rockies), Gray-headed (Rockies and southwest U.S. to Mexico), Red-backed (central Arizona and New Mexico), and White-winged (breeds in Black Hills, winters mainly Colorado). |
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Rock Pigeon Columbidae: Pigeons and Doves Fairly large pigeon with wild and feral populations throughout the world. True wild birds nest on cliffs and in caves from western Europe to central Asia. Pale gray overall with two bold black wingbars and iridescent purple and green on neck. Feral varieties are common in cities and farmland, often in large flocks. Variable plumage: some identical to wild-type birds, but can be completely black, white, or orangey-brown and any combination in between. |
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White-crowned Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Large, long-tailed sparrow with striking head pattern. Adults have black and white stripes on the head, while immatures show brown and tan. Underparts are plain grayish without streaks. Bill color varies from yellow to pink, but always brighter than White-throated Sparrow. Breeds in brushy areas or thickets in open forest, often with conifers. In migration and winter, can be found in any brushy or weedy areas, often hopping on the ground. Visits feeders. |
Lent
Lent starts in February or March, and is a time for contemplation and self-denial. Spring is at hand, but it is not yet time to celebrate. That comes later, only after taking up our cross and following Jesus, the Man of Sorrows.
Likewise, it is too early to welcome the full range of migrating birds. Some new birds will start appearing, but many of them are draped in the dull plumage of their winter counterparts, demanding discipline to identify. -k
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American Crow Corvidae: Jays, Crows & Magpies This is the common crow over much of the U.S. and Canada. Most easily identified by voice, a familiar “caw,” often repeated. Common in any open habitats, including fields, open woodlands, marshes, and cities, thriving around humans. Very social, usually seen in flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. Aggressive, sometimes seen chasing away hawks and owls. Separated from ravens by smaller size, smaller bill, shorter tail, and shorter, broader wings. Compare with Fish Crow, which is extremely similar in appearance, and best separated by voice. Includes the species formerly known as Northwestern Crow. |
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American Kestrel Falconidae: Falcons Petite falcon roughly the same size as Mourning Dove, but with a larger head and wider tail. In flight, note long, narrow wings and square-tipped tail. Often seen perched on telephone wires, along roadsides, in open country with short vegetation and few trees. From a perch or hovering, they usually drop to the ground to snatch small mammals and insects. Nests in cavities. Widespread across the Americas. |
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American Robin Turdidae: Thrushes Fairly large songbird with round body, long legs, and longish tail. Gray above with warm orange underparts and blackish head. Hops across lawns and stands erect with its bill often tilted upward. In fall and winter, forms large flocks and gathers in trees to roost or eat berries. Common across North America in gardens, parks, yards, golf courses, fields, pastures, and many other wooded habitats. |
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Common Grackle Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Lanky, fierce-looking, glossy blackbird. A bit larger than a jay; smaller, proportionally longer-tailed and shorter-winged than a crow. Staring yellow eye and long heavy bill (compared to Red-winged Blackbird). Often in flocks with other blackbirds in winter. Forages in fields, scrubby areas, and open woods. Visits feeders. |
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Dark-eyed Junco Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Unique sparrow with incredible variation between populations. Generally patterned with gray, white, and shades of tan. All have pinkish bills and white outer tail feathers. Juveniles are streaky. Breeds in a variety of forested habitats, especially with conifers. Found in any wooded habitat in the winter, often in flocks. Usually forages on the ground for seeds, but also fond of brushy thickets or weedy fields. Visits feeders. Subspecies include: Slate-colored (widespread), Oregon (West), Pink-sided (Rockies), Gray-headed (Rockies and southwest U.S. to Mexico), Red-backed (central Arizona and New Mexico), and White-winged (breeds in Black Hills, winters mainly Colorado). |
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Eastern Phoebe Tyrannidae: Tyrant Flycatchers A drab, medium-sized flycatcher. Brownish above and pale below, often with a light yellowish wash on the belly. Watch for constant tail-wagging, and also note duller wingbars than Empidonax flycatchers. Common and familiar throughout eastern North America, wintering as far south as southern Mexico. Usually seen singly or in pairs in relatively open habitats such as woodland edge, brushy fields, or edges of ponds. Often nests under eaves of buildings and other human-made structures. An early migrant, returning north to breed much earlier than other flycatchers. Listen for its harsh “FEE-bee” song in the spring, but don’t get confused by Black-capped Chickadee’s higher-pitched, sweet whistled song of a similar pattern! |
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Fish Crow Corvidae: Jays, Crows & Magpies A relatively small, glossy crow. Very difficult to separate from American Crow by appearance; look for Fish Crow’s slightly more tapered wings, quicker wingbeats, and shorter legs. Most easily identified by voice, a nasal “eh-uh” or single nasal caws. Mostly restricted to the southeastern U.S., especially along the coast, but range expanding slightly northward and inland in recent years. Often near water, but also seems especially fond of fast-food parking lots and dumpsters. |
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Gadwall Anatidae: Swans, Geese & Ducks Fairly large duck with extensive range across Northern Hemisphere. Males are mostly gray with a black rear end and puffy head. Also look for small white wing patch in flight. Females are similar to Mallard, but note thinner bill, plainer face, orange line along the edge of the bill, and white wing patch in flight. Typically found in pairs or small flocks in shallow wetlands, ponds, or bays, sometimes mixed with other species of ducks. |
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Horned Lark Alaudidae: Larks Squat-looking bird with short legs and low-profile body. Adults are mostly sandy-brown with white belly, sometimes with blurry streaks on sides of breast. Look for bold head pattern, especially black mask and chest band. Throat color varies from yellow to white. Namesake horns on head are sometimes visible at close range. Juveniles can be confusing; they are messy-looking, grayish-brown with bold white spots and scallops on the upperparts. Note bill shape to help separate from sparrows or longspurs. Widespread in open habitats throughout the Northern Hemisphere. Typically seen in flocks, sometimes mixed in with other open-ground songbirds, running along the ground in open areas with little to no vegetation. Listen for lovely jumbled song, as well as variable high-pitched calls when flying over. |
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Rock Pigeon Columbidae: Pigeons and Doves Fairly large pigeon with wild and feral populations throughout the world. True wild birds nest on cliffs and in caves from western Europe to central Asia. Pale gray overall with two bold black wingbars and iridescent purple and green on neck. Feral varieties are common in cities and farmland, often in large flocks. Variable plumage: some identical to wild-type birds, but can be completely black, white, or orangey-brown and any combination in between. |
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White-throated Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Large, long-tailed sparrow. Usually shows a bold head pattern and contrasting white throat. Two morphs with different head colors: white-striped and tan-striped. Both morphs show a yellow patch in front of the eye, but it is more obvious on white-striped birds. Adults have a fairly plain gray-brown breast without bold streaks, but immatures can be quite streaky. Note the grayish bill, unlike White-crowned Sparrow. Breeds in coniferous or mixed forests, often near clearings. In migration and winter, can be found in woods, forest edge, thickets and shrubby fields. Whistled song often transcribed as “Old Sam Peabody” or “O Sweet Canada.” Visits feeders. |
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Wilson’s Snipe Scolopacidae: Sandpipers Plump, well-camouflaged shorebird that blends into wet meadows and marshes. Dark and heavily marked, with pale buffy stripes on back and face. Extremely long bill used to probe into mud for invertebrates. Similar in shape to American Woodcock but much darker with extensive markings on underparts. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America, wintering to northern South America. Found in muddy wetlands, flooded fields, and marshes, usually singly but sometimes gathering in loose groups. When flushed, listen for rough call note. On breeding grounds, watch and listen for aerial flight display, given day and night: a rapid series of hoot-like noises produced by the outer tail feathers in flight. |
Easter
Easter, starting in March or April, is the time we have been waiting for all year. Jesus is alive! The Resurrection declares that Jesus is the world’s rightful King. Death no longer has the final say, and God has turned creation right side up.
The earth reflects this reality, too, as the full bloom of spring arrives to defeat the cold of winter. You may see the snow start to melt and hydrate the earth. You may see trees and early spring flowers start to bud and bloom. Easter season typically includes the peak of spring migration. Many of these birds are decked out in colorful plumage, as if wearing their Easter best! -e
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Bobolink Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Breeding male is distinctive with black body, white rump, and creamy nape. Females and nonbreeders are drastically different, yellow-brown with fine streaking on breast sides, and stripes on head. Smaller than Red-winged Blackbird with shorter bill. Spiky tail feathers. In the blackbird family, although often mistaken as a sparrow. Breeds in open fields. Listen for male’s bubbly song. Often in flocks during fall migration; departs early for wintering grounds in South America. |
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Eastern Meadowlark Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Streaked brown above and yellow below with distinctive black “V” on breast. In flight, short wings and spiky tail with white outer feathers are apparent. Breeds in fields and grasslands throughout eastern North America, with a disjunct population (“Lilian’s” Meadowlark) in the Southwest. Also occurs throughout Mexico and Central America, into northern South America, and in Cuba. Winters in dense grassy habitats, often in small loose groups. Extremely similar to Western Meadowlark and best distinguished by voice: listen for high-pitched, clear whistles and short buzzy calls. In winter, plumage looks slightly darker and more contrasty than Western Meadowlark, with a more contrasting head pattern. Eastern is somewhat more tied to more pristine grassland habitats, but with some overlap. |
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Gray Catbird Mimidae: Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers Medium-sized songbird, smaller than a robin, with a smooth gray body, black cap, and rusty-red undertail. Sometimes mimics other species in complex, jumbled song. Prefers dense shrubs and small trees in forest edges, streamside thickets, and old fields. Occasionally feeds on suet. |
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Red-bellied Woodpecker Picidae: Woodpeckers Medium-sized woodpecker that is not well named; rarely is the slight red wash on the belly visible! Instead, note the black-and-white barring on the back and wings, plain buffy breast and face, and red nape. On adult males, look for the red extending onto the crown. In flight, look for the white rump. Found in forested and suburban areas, typically preferring deciduous trees. Slowly expanding its range northward. Visits feeders, especially for suet. Nests in cavities. |
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Red-headed Woodpecker Picidae: Woodpeckers Incredibly striking bird: adults have brilliant crimson head, black back, large white wing patches, and white belly. These large patches of solid color are unlike other woodpeckers with more intricate patterns. Immatures have brownish heads. Found in open forests with clear understories, including pine plantations and standing timber in beaver swamps. Often social, found in family groups. Regularly seen caching nuts in the fall, perched on snags, and sallying out to catch insects. Occasionally visits feeders. Nests in cavities. |
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Savannah Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees A medium-sized, short-tailed sparrow. Extensive plumage variation across range, but always streaky. Usually shows distinctive yellow patch in front of eye, but this can be indistinct or absent on some individuals. Some populations in California and Baja have larger bills and more muted gray streaking; others are very dark and boldly streaked. “Ipswich” Sparrow on the Atlantic Coast is paler with unique buffy-pinkish tones. Almost always found in open areas, from meadows and hayfields to tundra and coastal dunes. Tends to be found in more open habitats than Song Sparrow; also smaller and shorter-tailed. |
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Song Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees One of the most common and widespread sparrows in North America. Fairly large with a long, rounded tail. Overall coarsely patterned with gray and brown, usually with more reddish-brown wings and tail. Look especially for thick brown streaks on the underparts and a broad dark mustache stripe. Significant variation in plumage geographically: relatively pale and rusty in the southwestern U.S.; blacker streaking in California; overall dusky in the Pacific Northwest. Larger, longer-tailed and usually more rusty than Savannah Sparrow. Found in a variety of scrubby habitats both near and far from human development, especially edges of fields, often near water. Listen for husky “chimp” calls and melodic song with chips and trills. |
Ordinary Time (Early)
Ordinary Time begins with a rush from the high of Easter, and quickly moves into Pentecost and Ascension day. For the purposes of this bird guide, we folded Pentecost and Ascension into Ordinary Time, and split Ordinary Time into two halves: early and late.
Maybe you are putting away your celebratory white or red linens and exchanging them for green ones. The work of God and the Church continues, and so do the birds. -e
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American Crow Corvidae: Jays, Crows & Magpies This is the common crow over much of the U.S. and Canada. Most easily identified by voice, a familiar “caw,” often repeated. Common in any open habitats, including fields, open woodlands, marshes, and cities, thriving around humans. Very social, usually seen in flocks, sometimes numbering in the hundreds or even thousands. Aggressive, sometimes seen chasing away hawks and owls. Separated from ravens by smaller size, smaller bill, shorter tail, and shorter, broader wings. Compare with Fish Crow, which is extremely similar in appearance, and best separated by voice. Includes the species formerly known as Northwestern Crow. |
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American Goldfinch Fringillidae: Siskins, Crossbills & Allies Small finch. Sharply pointed bill is pink in summer, grayish-brown in winter. Small head, long wings, and short, notched tail. Adult males in spring and summer are bright yellow with black forehead and wings. Females are dull yellow below and olive above with two distinct wingbars. In winter, they are drab, buffy-brown. Active and acrobatic. Sometimes in large numbers at feeders or on ground below. Found in weedy fields, cultivated areas, roadsides, orchards, and backyards. |
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American Kestrel Falconidae: Falcons Petite falcon roughly the same size as Mourning Dove, but with a larger head and wider tail. In flight, note long, narrow wings and square-tipped tail. Often seen perched on telephone wires, along roadsides, in open country with short vegetation and few trees. From a perch or hovering, they usually drop to the ground to snatch small mammals and insects. Nests in cavities. Widespread across the Americas. |
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Barn Swallow Hirundinidae: Martins and Swallows A fairly large, colorful swallow. Usually easy to identify with its long, forked tail and dark rump. Iridescent navy-blue above with a rich orange throat and forehead. Underparts vary across range, from bright buffy-orange to whitish. Occurs in any open habitat, especially large fields and wetlands. Often seen foraging in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallow. Typically nests close to human habitation; builds a muddy cup nest in a barn or under a dock. Listen for dry, scratchy “svit svit” calls. Note head and breast pattern and tail length to help separate from various similar species in Africa, Asia, and Australia (e.g., Welcome Swallow, Angolan Swallow, Pacific Swallow). |
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Bobolink Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Breeding male is distinctive with black body, white rump, and creamy nape. Females and nonbreeders are drastically different, yellow-brown with fine streaking on breast sides, and stripes on head. Smaller than Red-winged Blackbird with shorter bill. Spiky tail feathers. In the blackbird family, although often mistaken as a sparrow. Breeds in open fields. Listen for male’s bubbly song. Often in flocks during fall migration; departs early for wintering grounds in South America. |
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Chipping Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Small, slender, and incredibly cute sparrow. Plain grayish breast, rusty cap, and black eyeline in breeding season. Not as bright in winter, but still shows a brown cap and dark eyeline. Juveniles are extensively streaky. Common and widespread throughout most of North America. Usually found in open woodlands, scrubby areas, or even in suburban settings. Often gathers in flocks in fall and winter. Visits feeders. Frequently heard singing a fairly dry trill. Compare with similar Clay-colored, American Tree, and Brewer’s sparrows, but look for Chipping Sparrow’s gray rump and dark eyeline. |
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Eastern Bluebird Turdidae: Thrushes Adult males are striking royal blue above with bright orange throat and breast and bright white belly. Females are paler overall; grayish with orange on breast and sides of neck, and white belly. Favors fields and open woods. Often in small groups. Frequently perches on wires or fence posts. Nests in cavities. Listen for its soft, chortling calls. |
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Eastern Kingbird Tyrannidae: Tyrant Flycatchers Fairly large flycatcher, dark gray above and clean white below with blacker head. Look for white tail tip. Name is somewhat misleading; it does occur over most of eastern North America but also reaches as far west as British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Fairly common and conspicuous; perches out in the open, often on tall trees, snags, fences, and utility lines. Watches for large insects and makes quick flights to snatch them. Listen for metallic twittering calls. Winters in lowlands of South America. |
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Eastern Meadowlark Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Streaked brown above and yellow below with distinctive black “V” on breast. In flight, short wings and spiky tail with white outer feathers are apparent. Breeds in fields and grasslands throughout eastern North America, with a disjunct population (“Lilian’s” Meadowlark) in the Southwest. Also occurs throughout Mexico and Central America, into northern South America, and in Cuba. Winters in dense grassy habitats, often in small loose groups. Extremely similar to Western Meadowlark and best distinguished by voice: listen for high-pitched, clear whistles and short buzzy calls. In winter, plumage looks slightly darker and more contrasty than Western Meadowlark, with a more contrasting head pattern. Eastern is somewhat more tied to more pristine grassland habitats, but with some overlap. |
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Grasshopper Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Small, short-tailed, flat-headed sparrow found in weedy grasslands. Warm buffy coloration with clean unstreaked breast. Thin white eyering and yellow patch above eye. Back and wings are patterned with gray and rufous. Easy to see when singing atop a shrub, but can be very secretive much of the year. Best detected by its dry, insect like trill preceded by a few introductory notes. Typically not in flocks. |
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Gray Catbird Mimidae: Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers Medium-sized songbird, smaller than a robin, with a smooth gray body, black cap, and rusty-red undertail. Sometimes mimics other species in complex, jumbled song. Prefers dense shrubs and small trees in forest edges, streamside thickets, and old fields. Occasionally feeds on suet. |
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Great Blue Heron Ardeidae: Bitterns, Herons & Egrets Huge gray heron, no other similar species in range. Note large yellow-orange bill, short black plumes on head, and black and chestnut pattern on shoulder. Immatures are more brownish than adults, and have a dark crown. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America; wintering range extends to northern South America. Occurs in almost any wetland habitat, from small ponds to marshes to saltwater bays. Usually seen singly but can gather in numbers where food is plentiful. White form, sometimes considered a separate species (“Great White Heron”), is found in southern Florida and the Caribbean. It is most similar to Great Egret but has a larger bill. |
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Great Egret Ardeidae: Bitterns, Herons & Egrets Large, lanky, long-necked white heron. Size and black legs help separate from other egrets. Widespread and fairly common across the globe. Bill color varies across range: always yellow in the Americas, black in breeding season elsewhere. Occurs in any shallow wetland, including ponds, marshes, and tidal mudflats. Slowly stalks prey in shallow water. Often seen singly, but sometimes gathers in large numbers where food is plentiful. Breeds in colonies, frequently mixed with other egrets and herons. |
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House Finch Fringillidae: Siskins, Crossbills & Allies Frequents suburban settings across North America, along with open woods, brushy field edges, and deserts. Males vary in shades and intensity of red. Some males are yellow or orange. Females are drab gray-brown overall with plain faces and blurry streaks on underparts. Similar to Purple and Cassin’s Finch, but House Finch males are more orangey-red with color equally bright on crown, throat, and breast. Red color is mostly restricted to head and upper chest, contrasting with cold gray-brown nape, back, and wings. Pale sides show distinct brown streaks, lacking red tones. Females lack bold face pattern and have more diffuse patterning overall. Often sings loudly in neighborhoods and visits feeders. |
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House Sparrow Passeridae: Old World Sparrows Widespread and abundant in cities, neighborhoods and farms. Avoids dense woods. Flocks cluster in dense bushes, bustling around and chattering to one another. Males have smart black bibs, bright rufous napes, and stunningly patterned wings with brilliant buffs and browns. Underparts are pale pearly-gray. Females are plain brown with cute face and lighter eyebrow. Native to Eurasia; introduced to much of the rest of the world. |
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House Wren Troglodytidae: Wrens At home in suburbs, parks, rural farmland, and other open areas with thick tangles. In the breeding season, it is often singing its effervescent song from the top of a bush or fence post. Plumage doesn’t show much contrast: plain brown overall, slightly paler below, with some dark barring on the wings and tail. Lacks white eyebrow. In winter they are more secretive, preferring brushy tangles, thickets, and hedgerows. |
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Indigo Bunting Cardinalidae: Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels Breeding males are entirely blue with a slightly darker head. Females are plain brown with a whitish throat, bluish tail, and faint streaks on the underparts. Breeds in shrubby areas at the edge of forests and fields. Males often sing from a high exposed perch. Winters mainly in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it frequently gathers in flocks in weedy fields. Females can be very difficult to distinguish from Lazuli Bunting, although their range doesn’t overlap much. Indigo usually shows more streaking on the underparts; also note fainter wingbars, duller breast, and more contrasting whitish throat. |
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Killdeer Charadriidae: Plovers Common, large plover. Slender shape with long wings and tail. Look for two black breast bands, unique among plovers in its range. Often nests near human development: parking lots, school roofs, road edges, and farms, usually on bare gravel. Adults perform broken-wing displays to distract predators from their nests and young. Gathers in larger numbers in migration and winter, often in fields with short grass or barren dirt. Occurs throughout North America; more local along the Pacific coast of northern South America. Can be very vocal; listen for loud namesake “kill-deer” call. |
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Mallard Anatidae: Swans, Geese & Ducks A large duck, generally common and familiar within its extensive range. Males are distinctive with iridescent green head, yellow bill, chestnut breast, and gray body. Females are mottled brown with orange and black splotches on the bill. Found anywhere with water, including city parks, backyard creeks, and various wetland habitats. Often in flocks, and frequently mixes with other duck species. In North America, females can be tricky to distinguish from American Black Duck, Mottled Duck, and Mexican Duck where ranges overlap. Those species are all darker-bodied than Mallard. A good view of the wing can be helpful, too: white wingbars on the leading and trailing edges of the blue wing patch are bolder on Mallard. Frequently hybridizes with those species, which can be even more confusing. Any bird with extensive white in the tail or curled feathers above the tail has some Mallard genes. |
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Mourning Dove Columbidae: Pigeons and Doves Svelte with a long, pointed tail. Plain brown overall with dark spots on wing. Juvenile is covered with pale scaly pattern, but is much larger and longer-tailed than ground doves. Widespread and common throughout much of North America, from southern Canada to Panama, including the Caribbean. Found in a variety of habitats from agricultural fields to lightly wooded areas. Loves suburbs, where it often sits on telephone wires and visits bird feeders. Avoids dense forest, but found on forest edges. Usually seen in pairs or small flocks, sometimes gathering in larger numbers, especially in winter. Listen for distinctive cooing song and whistling wings as it takes off. |
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Northern Cardinal Cardinalidae: Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels Striking and familiar backyard bird throughout most of eastern North America; also occurs in the southwestern U.S. and fairly extensively in Mexico. Crest, large red bill, and long tail render this species distinctive even with a poor view. Male is entirely red with a black face. Female is brownish overall with redder wings and tail. Usually seen in pairs or small groups near dense cover, especially thickets near forest edges. Frequently visits bird feeders. Listen for high-pitched metallic chips and series of loud, sweet whistles. |
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Northern Mockingbird Mimidae: Catbirds, Mockingbirds & Thrashers Gray with whitish underparts and long tail. In flight, it becomes much flashier with large white patches on the black wings and tail. Pale eye. Found in a variety of habitats with bushes and trees, from neighborhoods to desert scrub and old pastures. Mimics birds, car alarms, slamming doors, and other noises in its song, repeating a phrase 5-7 times before switching to next set of notes. |
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Northern Rough-winged Swallow Hirundinidae: Martins and Swallows Plainest swallow in North America. Plain brown above with indistinct brown wash across throat and breast. Wings are relatively broad; tail is short and square (or slightly notched). Juveniles have rusty wingbars. “Ridgway’s” subspecies, mainly found on the Yucatan peninsula, is larger and lankier, almost recalling a martin. Look for the deeper notch in the tail and dark-tipped undertail coverts. Often seen near water, sometimes in mixed flocks with other swallows. Breeds in holes and crevices, often along riverbanks or under a bridge. Not a colonial nester like Bank Swallow. Call is a low, grating buzz that rises slightly in pitch. Compare with Bank Swallow, which has a contrasting dark chest band. Also very similar to Southern Rough-winged Swallow, which overlaps in Central America. Southern Rough-winged has a brighter tawny throat and paler rump. |
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Red-headed Woodpecker Picidae: Woodpeckers Incredibly striking bird: adults have brilliant crimson head, black back, large white wing patches, and white belly. These large patches of solid color are unlike other woodpeckers with more intricate patterns. Immatures have brownish heads. Found in open forests with clear understories, including pine plantations and standing timber in beaver swamps. Often social, found in family groups. Regularly seen caching nuts in the fall, perched on snags, and sallying out to catch insects. Occasionally visits feeders. Nests in cavities. |
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Red-tailed Hawk Accipitridae: Kites, Hawks & Eagles Most common roadside raptor across much of North America. Often perches atop telephone poles, light posts, and edges of trees. Incredible variation in plumages, including less common dark morphs and various regional differences. Eastern adults have brilliant reddish-orange tail and pale underparts with obvious band of dark marks across belly. Western birds are typically darker. Immatures do not have a red tail. |
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Savannah Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees A medium-sized, short-tailed sparrow. Extensive plumage variation across range, but always streaky. Usually shows distinctive yellow patch in front of eye, but this can be indistinct or absent on some individuals. Some populations in California and Baja have larger bills and more muted gray streaking; others are very dark and boldly streaked. “Ipswich” Sparrow on the Atlantic Coast is paler with unique buffy-pinkish tones. Almost always found in open areas, from meadows and hayfields to tundra and coastal dunes. Tends to be found in more open habitats than Song Sparrow; also smaller and shorter-tailed. |
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Solitary Sandpiper Scolopacidae: Sandpipers Medium-sized shorebird. Gray above and white below, with fine white speckling on wings and bold white spectacles. Note dark underwing and dark rump in flight. Smaller and shorter-legged than Lesser Yellowlegs, with duller greenish legs. Often alone, but multiple individuals may gather loosely in appropriate habitat. Tips body like Spotted Sandpiper, but less constantly and not as quick and dramatic. Breeds around ponds and marshes in the boreal forest; uses old songbird nests in trees, unlike most other shorebirds. In migration and winter, mostly seen on small bodies of water like muddy ponds, lake edges, and slow-moving streams. Extensive winter range throughout Central and South America. Listen for piercing, high-pitched “tsee-weet!” call. |
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Song Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees One of the most common and widespread sparrows in North America. Fairly large with a long, rounded tail. Overall coarsely patterned with gray and brown, usually with more reddish-brown wings and tail. Look especially for thick brown streaks on the underparts and a broad dark mustache stripe. Significant variation in plumage geographically: relatively pale and rusty in the southwestern U.S.; blacker streaking in California; overall dusky in the Pacific Northwest. Larger, longer-tailed and usually more rusty than Savannah Sparrow. Found in a variety of scrubby habitats both near and far from human development, especially edges of fields, often near water. Listen for husky “chimp” calls and melodic song with chips and trills. |
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Tree Swallow Hirundinidae: Martins and Swallows Common and widespread throughout most of North America, breeding as far north as Alaska and wintering to Panama. A medium-sized swallow, with gleaming white underparts. Adult males are bright iridescent blue-green above; females and immatures are duller brownish with limited or no iridescence. Always note compact shape, fairly broad wings, and slightly notched tail. Occurs in a variety of open habitats including grassy fields, lakes, and marshes. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallows. Breeds in cavities, including human-made nest boxes. Listen for cheery gurgling calls. Compare especially with Violet-green Swallow; note Tree Swallow does not show extensive white wrapping around the cheek or the sides of the rump. |
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Turkey Vulture Cathartidae: New World Vultures Large raptor. Appears dark from a distance. Up close, dark brown above with bare red head. In flight, undersides of wings are two-toned; lighter on the entire trailing edge of the wing, opposed to just wingtips on Black Vulture. Wings are held slightly raised when soaring, making a “V” when seen head-on. Tends to wobble in flight. Wingbeats slower and deeper than Black Vulture. Glides relatively low while sniffing for carrion, or riding thermals to higher vantage points. Also huddles around roadkill or dumpsters. |
Ordinary Time (Late)
Ordinary Time continues as the long, hot summer days slowly turn into shorter, colder ones. During this time, the birds will sense this change and start their long journey south towards warmer weather. The migration season signals a sharp change in the numbers and types of birds you will see. But take heart; although we see them leave during this season, we trust in the God who rules over time and space. In God’s wisdom, the birds will return in their raucous joy come Spring. -e
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Blue Jay Corvidae: Jays, Crows & Magpies Familiar but stunning jay found year-round throughout most of eastern North America. Bright blue above and pale gray below with a fluffy crest. Also look for black necklace and black and white markings on the wings and tail. Pairs or small groups travel through mature deciduous or coniferous woodlands, often revealing their presence with loud, harsh “jay” calls. Frequently visits bird feeders, where it is often aggressive towards other birds. |
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Brown-headed Cowbird Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Stout bill. Short tail and stocky body. Males are glossy black with chocolate brown head. Females are gray-brown overall, without bold streaks, but slightly paler throat. Juveniles streaked brown. Found in open woods, farmland, and stockyards. Forages by walking on the ground. Often in flocks with other blackbirds in winter. Visits feeders. Unpopular due to their parasitic habit of laying eggs in nests of other birds. |
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Canada Goose Anatidae: Swans, Geese & Ducks A large brown goose with a black neck and white chinstrap. Overall size, bill size, and brown coloration variable across subspecies. Occurs in any open or wetland habitat, from city parks and golf courses to pristine marshes and Arctic tundra. Typically in flocks or family groups. Often seen in mixed flocks with Cackling Goose, especially in central and western North America. Canada Goose is almost always larger, longer-necked, and longer-billed than Cackling, although beware there is some overlap between the smallest Canada and largest Cackling. Abundant and widespread throughout the U.S. and Canada; rare in Mexico. Introduced and widely established in Europe. Listen for loud honking calls, especially as flocks migrate overhead in the classic V formation. |
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Chipping Sparrow Passerellidae: New World Sparrows and Towhees Small, slender, and incredibly cute sparrow. Plain grayish breast, rusty cap, and black eyeline in breeding season. Not as bright in winter, but still shows a brown cap and dark eyeline. Juveniles are extensively streaky. Common and widespread throughout most of North America. Usually found in open woodlands, scrubby areas, or even in suburban settings. Often gathers in flocks in fall and winter. Visits feeders. Frequently heard singing a fairly dry trill. Compare with similar Clay-colored, American Tree, and Brewer’s sparrows, but look for Chipping Sparrow’s gray rump and dark eyeline. |
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European Starling Sturnidae: Starlings Stocky and dark overall. Short tail, triangular wings, and long, pointed bill. Close look reveals beautiful plumage. In breeding season, shows purple and green iridescence on body with yellow bill. In winter, bold white spots cover the entire body. Native to Eurasia; introduced in many regions worldwide, where it is now abundant. Often in large flocks. Makes variety of squeaky vocalizations, including proficient mimicry of other species. Inhabits a wide range of open habitats, often in very close proximity to people. Visits feeders, and is often aggressive. |
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Great Blue Heron Ardeidae: Bitterns, Herons & Egrets Huge gray heron, no other similar species in range. Note large yellow-orange bill, short black plumes on head, and black and chestnut pattern on shoulder. Immatures are more brownish than adults, and have a dark crown. Fairly common and widespread throughout North America; wintering range extends to northern South America. Occurs in almost any wetland habitat, from small ponds to marshes to saltwater bays. Usually seen singly but can gather in numbers where food is plentiful. White form, sometimes considered a separate species (“Great White Heron”), is found in southern Florida and the Caribbean. It is most similar to Great Egret but has a larger bill. |
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Green-winged Teal Anatidae: Swans, Geese & Ducks Tiny duck with a petite, thin bill. Males have a brown head with a wide green swatch behind the eye, creamy speckled breast, and mostly gray body. Females are brown, darker overall than other dabbling ducks. Forages by dabbling and tipping-up to reach submerged aquatic vegetation. Also regularly walks around mudflats to feed. |
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Indigo Bunting Cardinalidae: Tanagers, Cardinals, Grosbeaks & Dickcissels Breeding males are entirely blue with a slightly darker head. Females are plain brown with a whitish throat, bluish tail, and faint streaks on the underparts. Breeds in shrubby areas at the edge of forests and fields. Males often sing from a high exposed perch. Winters mainly in Middle America and the Caribbean, where it frequently gathers in flocks in weedy fields. Females can be very difficult to distinguish from Lazuli Bunting, although their range doesn’t overlap much. Indigo usually shows more streaking on the underparts; also note fainter wingbars, duller breast, and more contrasting whitish throat. |
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Red-winged Blackbird Icteridae: Blackbirds, Meadowlarks & Orioles Males are black with red shoulder patch that is sometimes concealed. Males have rusty feather edges in the winter. Females are streaked brown and often confused with sparrows. Look for long, sharply pointed bill. Often in flocks, especially in winter. Visits feeders. Breeds in marshes and scrubby, wet fields. Distinctive song, especially as migrants arrive in early spring. |
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Tree Swallow Hirundinidae: Martins and Swallows Common and widespread throughout most of North America, breeding as far north as Alaska and wintering to Panama. A medium-sized swallow, with gleaming white underparts. Adult males are bright iridescent blue-green above; females and immatures are duller brownish with limited or no iridescence. Always note compact shape, fairly broad wings, and slightly notched tail. Occurs in a variety of open habitats including grassy fields, lakes, and marshes. Often in flocks, sometimes mixed with other species of swallows. Breeds in cavities, including human-made nest boxes. Listen for cheery gurgling calls. Compare especially with Violet-green Swallow; note Tree Swallow does not show extensive white wrapping around the cheek or the sides of the rump. |